PM defends Family First preference deal

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Prime Minister John Howard has defended the coalition's preference deal with the Family First Party.

In a deal negotiated by Mr Howard, the socially conservative Family First, which has close links to the Assemblies of God church, will preference the coalition in 109 House of Representatives seats.

Mr Howard said he had agreed with a Family First request to introduce family impact statements in cabinet submissions.

"I had some discussions and I indicated a willingness to, for example, have something that we effectively have now and that is a family impact statement in each cabinet submission," he told the Nine network.

But Mr Howard said he had not agreed to change the government's policies on issues such as stem cell research and abortion.

"I indicated that on issues of substance, abortion and so forth, the position stated on behalf of the government would remain," he said.

Mr Howard said he would rather give preferences to Family First than to the Australian Greens.

"I would rather give my preferences to a party like that than I would to the Greens who are in favour of abolishing the private health insurance rebate, are in favour of massive tax increases, have a very permissive attitude towards drug use, are inherently hostile towards the American alliance," he said.

"And, in the case of Bob Brown, has actually canvassed the idea of negotiating with terrorists."

Mr Howard would not criticise Family First for refusing to preference the Liberal candidate for Brisbane, Ingrid Tall, who is a lesbian.

"I don't allocate those preferences and I don't discriminate against people according to their sexual preferences," he said.

Australian Greens leader Bob Brown said Family First had extreme-right religious connections.

"I think it is a conspiratorial set up," Senator Brown told the Ten network.

"I think they haven't been honest about what they're doing.

"For example, about the extreme right religious connections behind it, and I think they should be."